James has worked for the Kentucky Department for Public Health (KDPH) since December 1, 2007. During his years of employment with KDPH, he has served as the Exercise Program Coordinator, Emergency Support Function #8 Planning Coordinator, Hospital Preparedness Program Manager, Public Health Preparedness Branch Manager/Public Health Preparedness Director, Mobile Harm Reduction Program Administrator and the Health Program Administrator for the Center for Foundational Health. Currently, he is the Human Services Program Branch Manager/Workforce Director for the Public Health Workforce Readiness Branch responsible for overseeing the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG). As the Workforce Director, James supervises eight employees who are responsible for the development and implementation of public health career pathway programs for high school students, college students, university students and the current public health workforce. James also serves as the Chairperson of KDPH’s Public Health Workforce Readiness Subcommittee and Co-Chair of the Kentucky Public Health Association’s Workforce Development Committee.

Prior to his employment with KDPH, James worked for the Lake Cumberland District Health Department (LCDHD), Somerset, KY. He supervised a multi-disciplinary team who planned, conducted and evaluated preparedness-related planning, training and exercise activities throughout a 10-county region. These activities greatly enhanced the preparedness level of LCDHD and partnering agencies for public health responses to man-made and natural disaster events.

James served 21 years with the United States Navy from 1980 to 2001 specializing in the field of Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health. During his last tour with the Navy, he earned his certification as a Group Paced Instructor and served as the Senior Instructor for the Preventive Medicine Technician School, San Diego, CA. As an instructor, he delivered over 1500 hours of instruction to 450 military personnel in the functional areas of Epidemiology, Communicable Diseases, Mathematics, Occupational Safety and Health, Food Safety, Environmental Health and Instructional Methods.

James holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Workforce Education and Development with specialization in Education, Training and Development from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL.